STEPANAKERT, Artsakh (A.W.)—Artsakh serviceman Seyran Sargsyan (b. 1998) was killed by Azerbaijani fire on Sept. 28. According to a press statement released by Artsakh’s Ministry of Defense, Sargsyan was killed in the southeastern direction of the Line of Contact (LoC) between Artsakh and Azerbaijan.
According to the statement, an investigation has been launched into the incident. The Ministry also expressed its condolences to the family, loved ones, and fellow serviceman of the deceased solider.
Sargsyan is the second Artsakh soldier to be killed in September. Earlier this month, Armenian serviceman Hayk Khachatryan (b. 1998) was killed at around 11:50 a.m. on Sept. 1 in a landmine explosion close to an Artsakh Defense Army unit in the eastern section of the LoC.
Incredibly sad. When do the diaspora serve full time?
I imagine that more of the Armenian Diaspora will be glad to “serve full time” as soon as Armenia & Artzakh will express & a serious & inspired message of interest for their participation in that capacity. There has been Diaspora participation in the defense of Artzakh, as was the case with the Crusader Battalion, during the Karabakh War (1988 – 1994).
These days everything is in the hands of Tsar Putin!
I don’t think that diaspora participation will make any difference. Clearly there are external forces dictating what Armenians can and can’t do in the defense of their homeland… when Armenia gets some aggressive and patriotic leaders who will not stand for even a minuscule amount of aggression by the eastern Turkic state, that’s when we can start to see changes. Until then, expect more of the same. Both the West and Russia would hate to see this happen…
I think you poeple need to wake up from your dreams. At the height of Artsakh’s war of independence, all told less than one hundred diasporans participated in the fighting. That said, no one is stopping anyone from becoming an Armenian citizen and joing the Armenian armed forces.
If you people want to make better sense of the deaths we are suffering on the border, think of what’s happening as a war that needs to be fought to preserve Artsakh independence and Armenia’s security. Because Baku cannot wage a full scale war against Armenia (because it fears repercussions from Moscow and Tehran and wants to avoid a full scale war) it is engaging in a war of attrition on the border instead. Their tactic is “death by a thousands cuts”. The four day war in April 2016 was also part of this strategy. They are hoping to demoralize Armenians, perhaps even foment an internal revolt or a revolution. Therefore, every time we despair and panic or attack our government for what’s going on, Baku wins.
As I said, you people need to think of the deadly border skirmishes as a war to make better sense of the lives lost. It is also important to take into concideration that the fighting is also giving our military very valuable lessons and combat experience. Our country is located in the south Caucasus. Having a combat experienced military is essential. And there is nothing like a limited war like what’s going on to hone your military’s combat skills. Remember that between 1994 and 2014 our military was sitting idle and growing dangerously complacent. I’m glad our military got a big slap on the face in April 2016. Now, they are taking matters much more seriously and they are getting their act in order.
To gain or maintain the sacred right to a nation-state we must be readily willing to sacrifice the lives of our young men. It’s been this way since the dawn of history. Small nations like us don’t get a free pass by the global community. Let’s remember Thomas Jefferson’s famous quote: The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants”. This applies to all nations regardless of size. Therefore, let’s not lament our deaths on the border, let’s instead be proud of our fighters and let’s honor them. The men on the borders are war heroes and they are gaining for our military very valuable combat experience.
In all honesty, I rather have this kind of a war than a full scale war.
What about some news about our retaliatory work against the enemy. What are we doing to counter attack every time one of our soldiers taken down???? Are we sitting ducks, or are we taking down few of theirs? What about some news on that front, if any?